Bozeman Police Shooting Leaves a Man Dead

According to a report, Bozeman police officers responded to a report that an intoxicated man, later identified as 31 year-old Eric David Sauerhagen, was assaulting his male roommate at a residence on the 3100 block of Summer View Lane, which is in the Alder Creek neighborhood near Sacajawea Middle School.

When officers arrived they found the roommate outside the residence. Sauerhagen was inside but did not respond to their instructions.

At approximately 12:07 a.m., Sauerhagen, reportedly armed with a hatchet and a handgun, came toward officers. One of the officers shot Sauerhagen, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

There were no injuries to the officers.

The incident is under investigation by both the Montana Department of Criminal Investigation and the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office.

Bozeman Police Chief Steve Crawford says that the officer who fired the shot is a department veteran and has been placed on standard paid administrative leave.

Crawford told reporters, Friday, that the deadly incident is "an example of what no officer wants to encounter." He went on to say "nobody wants to see anybody lose their life."